Charles McPherson
Charles McPherson, proprietor of a farm of about one hundred and fifty acres on the lower Bellbrook pike four miles southwest of Xenia in Spring Valley township, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on April 29, 1855, son of William and Mary Ann (Rader) McPherson, both of whom also were born in this county, members of old families.
William McPherson was born in the then village of Xenia on February 16, 1816, son of John H. and Margaret (Hivling) McPherson, the latter of whom was born in Maryland and was a daughter of John Hivling, who was sheriff of Greene county back in 1813-14. John H. McPherson was one of the early artisans to locate at Xenia and was a chairmaker and painter. For some time he served as postmaster of Xenia and for more than ten years served as recorder of the county, his tenure in that office beginning in 1830. Of the children born to him and his wife, John, Moses, Sophia and William lived to rear families of their own and of these William McPherson was the last survivor, his death occurring in 1913, he then being at the age of eighty-seven years.
Reared at Xenia, William McPherson received his schooling in the schools of that city and when eighteen years of age went to Dayton, where he spent a year learning the trade of saddle-making. He then returned to Xenia and was engaged working at that trade until until his marriage in 1840, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and began to farm a tract of land belonging to his grandfather Hivling on what is known as Dayton hill, now a part of the city of Xenia. In 1848 he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres in Spring Valley township, the place now owned and occupied by his son Charles, and in 1850 established his home there. Mr. McPherson was a Republican, was a member of the Reformed church at Xenia and, fraternally, was affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in that city.
William McPherson was twice married. It was in 1840 that he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Rader, daughter of Adam and Christina (Smith) Rader, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to that union were born ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being John H., former auditor of Greene county; Joshua, who served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, going to the front as a member of Company C, Seventy-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died at Nashville while engaged in service; Ann, who married E. S. Barnett, of Xenia township; Sophia, who married William Priest, also of Xenia township; Adam, who moved to Iowa, and William, who was graduated from Ohio State University and later became professor of chemistry in that institution. Following the death of the mother of these children Mr. McPherson in 1891 married Mrs. Mary Ann (Price) Wright.
Charles McPherson was reared on the farm on which he was born, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools. He gradually relieved his father of the responsibilities of farm management, and after his marriage in 1892 assumed management of the place. After his father's death he bought the interests held by the other heirs in the home place and has since been owner of the same, with the exception of fifteen acres of the original tract which he sold for the convenience of a neighbor. Of late years Mr. McPherson has been aided in the operations of the farm hy his son, Donald McPherson, who is married and lives on the place. In addition to their general farming Mr. McPherson and his son give considerable attention to the raising of live stock.
In 1892 Charles McPherson was united in marriage to Eva Taylor, who was born at Xenia, daughter of Wesley Taylor and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Donald, who, as mentioned above, is now assisting his father in the management of the home farm. Donald McPherson completed his schooling in the Xenia high school and from boyhood has taken an interest in the affairs of the home farm. He married Mary Clevell Weaver, daughter of Alpha Weaver, of this county, and makes his home on the home place. The McPhersons are members of the Reformed church at Xenia. Mr. McPherson is a Republican, but has not been an aspirant for public office.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918